Makeup & nails

7 ways to make your manicure last

Makeup & nails

7 ways to make your manicure last

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7 ways to make your manicure last

Manicure Tip: Cap it off

Capping the free edge of nails – painting over the tips when applying base coat, colour and topcoat – will ensure that the manicure lasts longer than some Hollywood marriages. READ MORE: Everything you need to know about nail files

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: ELLE Canada
Source: Getty

7 ways to make your manicure last

Manicure tip: Avoid peeling

Polish on your cuticles not only looks like amateur hour but can also shorten the life of your mani. “As your nails grow, oil residue can seep underneath the bottom of the nails where the nail polish bond is broken. It will cause your polish to lift and peel,” says manicurist Wendy Rorong. READ MORE: Instagram nail experts share their spring tips and trends

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: ELLE Canada
Source: Imaxtree

7 ways to make your manicure last

Manicure tip: Don't overapply polish

The more coats you apply, the thicker the polish and the more likely your mani will chip. READ MORE: Rita Remark breaks down this summer's must-have nail looks

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: ELLE Canada
Source: Imaxtree

7 ways to make your manicure last

Manicure tip: Paint over a chip

Chip the tip of your nail cleaning the bathroom? First, delegate that chore forevermore. Second, grab a complementary shade of polish and apply only on your tips, French-manicure-style. Hello, new nail look. WATCH: How to get easy festival nail art

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: ELLE Canada
Source: Imaxtree

7 ways to make your manicure last

Manicure Tip: Keep polish cool

Avoid applying your polish outside in full sunlight or in a very hot room. Heat can stop it from drying evenly or cause it to form bubbles on the surface of your nail. WATCH: Summer nail art you can do at home

Image by: ELLE Canada
By: ELLE Canada
Source: Getty

7 ways to make your manicure last

Manicure tip: Try a waterless version

“Waterless manicures are definitely something you want to adopt,” advises Naomi Misu from Tips Nail Bar in Toronto. “When nails absorb water, they expand and won’t return to their natural strength for up to 24 hours.” She recommends keeping nails away from water as much as possible and using gloves when doing activities like washing dishes. READ MORE: 8 nail looks from Toronto Fashion Week you can wear right now

7 ways to make your manicure last

Manicure tip: Make it gel

It’s the Energizer Bunny of polish. To keep summery nudes and pinks from looking scuzzy as you near the 14-day mark, use a nude, rather than clear, base coat, suggests Rorong. When it’s time to remove the gel, don’t give in to the temptation to peel it off, which will only weaken nails. Instead, buff nails with the coarse side of a file before soaking in acetone. “This essentially removes the top layer of the gel and lets the acetone soak in faster," says Rorong. READ MORE: KFC introduces edible, chicken-flavoured nail polish